Blacksmith in “FT”: enabling Putin to extend the borders of Russia would be terrible

President Donald Trump will make a “historical mistake” if negotiations with the US participation regarding the end of the war in Ukraine lead to the recognition of Russia's territorial claims – said the head of the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee Paweł Kowal in a conversation published on Sunday with the Financial Times.

The blacksmith gave an interview before departure to Washington, where he is to meet with high -ranking representatives of the US Congress and with a special envoy of the US President for Ukraine Keith Kellogg – the daily said.

According to the Polish policy, the possible legal recognition of the extension of Russia's borders to areas occupied in the war with Ukraine would mean that for both Poland and other Central European countries, the so -called Red line.

He noted that there is a clear difference between temporary solutions aimed at completing the fighting in Ukraine and the fulfillment of “Russian expectations in terms of recognition (for Russian – PAP) Crimea, Donbass or other parts of Ukraine.” He emphasized that it would be a “historical mistake” and a precedent. It would be terrible to allow Putin to extend the boundaries of “imperial Russia (…)” – added the blacksmith.

“After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia recognized Ukraine with its borders, including Crimea and Donbass, and this is the basis of the principles of international law. International legal guarantees regarding (mileage – PAP) borders in Central Europe are one of the main guarantees of peace maintenance in the region, as follows from our historical experience,” noted Kowal.

He emphasized that “it is very difficult to discuss safety in Ukraine in isolation from the general issue of Central Europe's security.” Meanwhile – as “FT” noted – in recent months Trump ruled out European countries from negotiations with Kiev and Moscow.

The blacksmith expressed the conviction that Trump ultimately in accordance with the law would not allow Russia to control the territory of Ukraine and see the threat from Putin. In the Kowala's opinion, the American leader will grant a security guarantee that Kiev and European allies expect, because he will not want to deprive American companies of investing in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

“Politicians are very easy to separate political guarantees from business and military guarantees, but if real money (companies) are to be invested in Ukraine, they will (they) demand serious American guarantees,” said Kowal.

When asked about the “coalition of volunteers”, i.e. the alliance of countries that conduct talks about the support of Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement, the politician said that instead of focusing on joint findings regarding the situation after the end of the conflict, you should focus on helping Ukraine in “saving its territory now”.

“In terms of coalition, we have adopted a slightly wrong perspective, because the most important thing is to stop the Russians now. (…) We should focus on the (immediate) tactical support of Ukraine, because I see how Putin could take advantage of the time of negotiations with the US,” said Kowal.

The KO politician was also asked to comment on the statements of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who announced that Poland would continue to provide Ukraine with political and logistic support, but will not send soldiers as part of an possible international peace mission. As Kowal emphasized, the point is not to weaken the Polish army, whose main task is to protect the country's borders against Russia and Belarus. He also reminded that Poland has already transferred a significant amount of military equipment to Ukraine. (PAP)

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